About the Los Angeles Auto Show

It's an imposing seven-seater dressed in highway-patrol vehicle guise, and it also provides the centerpiece for the German carmaker's entry into this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge.

Mercedes-Benz officials won't be drawn out on specifics just yet, but highly placed sources claim the Ener-G-Force is the forerunner to a three-vehicle lineup of Land Rover-rivaling off-roaders set to join the German carmaker's portfolio in the future. They will be based around existing platforms and driveline combinations.

Intriguingly, this concept previews a long-awaited replacement for the G-class in production since 1979.

“The Ener-G-Force invokes the genes of the G-class. It could also be a clue about a new beginning for the off-road design idiom of Mercedes-Benz,” said Gorden Wagener, head of Mercedes design.

Styled at the firm's advanced design studio in Carlsbad, Calif., the Ener-G-Force updates the functional, go-anywhere appearance of the 33-year-old G-class with a bold look that provides clues for the how the company's SUV lineup will look in the future. Autoweek understands the portfolio has been conceived to include compact, midsize and luxury variants in a move aimed at providing broader customer appeal than today's G-class.

The indicators are mounted atop the front wings to provide positioning reference in tricky conditions off-road. They bookmark a raised hood that uses a mailbox-like opening along its leading edge for added engine cooling.

Further back, there are pumped-up wing panels providing for plenty of wheel travel, an upright windscreen, high waistline, shallow glass house with recessed side windows, one-piece tailgate hinged within the roof and a rear bumper that mirrors the look of that up front. The taut surfacing and lack of fanciful crease lines throughout the body help to provide the concept with a particularly tough appearance that Autoweek has been told forms the basis for the design of the new Land Rover-rivaling range of off-roaders.

As Mercedes' entry for this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge, which seeks a highway-patrol vehicle for the year 2025, the Ener-G-Force's proposed driveline consists of four wheel-mounted, hydrogen-powered electric motors. Water held in containers on the roof and a so-called Hydro-Tech converter provides electricity that is stored in batteries within the concept car's broad sills, which also act as tread plates. Mercedes projects a range of up to 497 miles.

Also included is an off-road application of Mercedes-Benz's new magic ride system called Terra Scan. It uses a camera to detect the surrounding terrain and alter the spring, damper and traction-control parameters accordingly in a process aimed at providing optimal levels of traction, both on- and off-road.

The 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show takes place Nov. 28 through Dec. 9. In keeping with the Southern California lifestyle, the LA auto show is usually a showcase for green cars, hybrid vehicles and electric transportation. But sports cars – especially convertibles – also command the spotlight. Check out Autoweek's complete coverage of the Los Angeles Auto Show here.